Celtic’s Mika Baur Earns First Germany Call-Up Under Jurgen Klopp

Celtic midfielder Baur is in line for a first senior Germany appearance after earning a rapid call-up from new national-team coach Jurgen Klopp, only months after his summer move from Paderborn to Glasgow.

Key takeaways

• The 22-year-old joined Celtic from Paderborn after helping the German club win promotion to the Bundesliga.
• Klopp has included Baur in Germany’s squad for the forthcoming Nations League matches.
• Germany will host Serbia in Munich on Thursday, when Baur could make his international debut.
• Baur said the national-team invitation came far sooner than he had expected.
• The midfielder believes his improved defensive work has complemented his established ability in possession.

A fast rise after Celtic switch

Baur’s transfer to Celtic represented the next stage of a quickly developing career. He left Paderborn this summer after playing an important part in their promotion-winning campaign, which secured Bundesliga football for his former club.

While he expected to need time to settle into the Scottish Premiership, his early Celtic displays have been enough to put him into Klopp’s plans. The Germany manager has selected the 22-year-old for the latest Nations League squad, giving him an opportunity to compete for minutes at senior international level.

The midfielder described the call as difficult to process, saying international football had felt a long way off before he received it. He viewed the move to Glasgow as an important step in his development, but had not imagined that it would so quickly bring a place in the Germany set-up.

Baur is not treating the camp simply as a learning exercise. He wants to absorb the experience, enjoy the occasion and show that he can contribute, while recognising that every player in the squad is aiming to get onto the pitch.

Defensive development adds to Baur’s game

Although Baur considers his main strengths to be on the ball, he has pointed to changes in his game over the past 18 months. He has worked to become more effective without possession, embracing the running, challenges and physical effort required in midfield.

That added defensive contribution has helped him feel capable of influencing matches at both ends of the game. His ability to cover ground, compete and work for the side now sits alongside the technical qualities that first made him stand out.

Germany’s meeting with Serbia in Munich on Thursday offers Baur the chance to complete an extraordinary spell that has taken him from promotion with Paderborn to Celtic and into Klopp’s national squad. A debut would be another significant marker in his progress and underline the impact of his decision to take on a new challenge in Scotland.