As the 2033/34 Challenge League season approaches, Chur’s summer has been defined less by movement on the pitch and more by conviction behind the scenes. In an era when second-tier squads are increasingly shaped by churn, Chur have instead chosen continuity – a deliberate decision that speaks volumes about Iñaki Arriola’s belief in his process.

There were no headline signings, no statistical gambles. Instead, nearly three quarters of a million Swiss francs were invested away from the spotlight, poured into youth facilities and infrastructure upgrades that align perfectly with the club’s long-term identity. It is a quiet but pointed statement: Chur are building something sustainable, not merely reacting to momentum.

The one truly seismic change came with Dion Cakolli’s departure. Stade Lausanne-Ouchy’s €550k bid was accepted for a player who had become synonymous with Chur’s rise – 103 goals, a talismanic presence, and the defining reference point of Arriola’s attacking structure. His desire to test himself in the Super League was respected, and the club resisted the temptation to replace him like-for-like. Willy Vogt, Rayan Stoll, Ilija Maslarov and Nino Weibel also departed at the end of their contracts, trimming the squad without altering its spine.

The question now is stark: is continuity enough? Here is the squad that Chur will enter the season with:

Nicolas Ammeter | Antonio Spagnolli

Nicholas Ammeter enters his second season as Chur’s undisputed number one, buoyed by twelve clean sheets last campaign – a reflection not only of his own reliability but of a defensive system that increasingly protects central spaces. Behind him, Spagnoli begins his fifth year at the club and his second as backup, offering calm experience and continuity

Frank Llumnica | Alexandre Vayvendaz | Brandon Soppy | Guiliano Graf | David Jacovic | Tidiane Diallo

Few players embody Chur’s modern identity better than Frank Llumnica. Still only 23, the Kosovan international enters his fifth season with 119 appearances already logged. As a left-back who often tucks inside during build-up, he has become a key component in Arriola’s asymmetrical back line. On the right, the contrast is deliberate. Alexandre Vayvendaz, a Grasshoppers academy product, has accepted a reduced role since Brandon Soppy’s arrival, but remains Arriola’s “secret weapon”: explosive, direct, and devastating when introduced late. Soppy, by contrast, offers structure – 31 appearances and seven assists last season highlighting his balance between controlled overlaps and defensive discipline. Central defence remains quietly strong. Guiliano Graf, the second Chur native to break into the first team, continues his evolution into a modern centre-back: mobile, proactive, and increasingly authoritative. David Jacovic provides experience and tactical flexibility from the bench, while Tidiane Diallo – now into his third season – remains the physical anchor, with 67 appearances and a growing leadership presence.

Simon Luchinger | Marvin Hodler | Theo Magnin | Brian Farinas

Simon Luchinger remains the metronome. Into his fifth season and with 123 appearances, his influence is subtle rather than spectacular – just eight goal contributions – but Chur’s ability to control rhythm and spacing begins with him. There is growing excitement around Marvin Hodler. The 18-year-old Chur native has impressed in pre-season, and his four senior appearances hint at an all-action midfielder capable of stretching Arriola’s double-pivot options. Theo Magin offers invaluable versatility, while Brian Farinas – the former La Masia prospect – looks increasingly indispensable after a debut season that yielded 12 goal contributions from midfield.

Zidan Tairi | Matteo Gambardella | Andrea Favara | Jano Monserrate | Xabier Iriondo

If continuity is Chur’s theme, creativity is their currency. Zidan Tairi enters his third season as the team’s primary conductor, having produced 48 goal contributions across the last two campaigns. Supporters’ Player of the Year last season, he remains the reference point in the No.10 role. Matteo Gambardella’s numbers are staggering – 85 goal contributions in 126 games – and with Cakolli gone, his tactical importance grows. Whether deployed wide or centrally, his adaptability will be crucial. Andrea Favara, now into his eighth season, remains the emotional heartbeat of the club: 133 games, 50 contributions, and the embodiment of Chur’s academy vision. Jano Monserrate’s half-season cameo suggested a player well-suited to Arriola’s positional rotations, while Xabier Iriondo’s explosive end to last season — eight contributions in 17 games – has elevated expectations. His reported linguistic integration only strengthens the sense that he is settling quickly.

Iker Huerte

The void left by Cakolli is most keenly felt here. Iker Huerte struggled for rhythm last season, often limited to substitute appearances, but now finds himself as the lone recognised striker. His work rate fits Arriola’s pressing demands; the unanswered question is whether he can provide the ruthless efficiency that the system may soon require.

The absence of signings has not gone unnoticed, and the pundits are divided:

Stefan Flückiger sees logic in the calm. “Chur know exactly who they are,” he notes. “They don’t panic. But in this league, standing still can sometimes look like moving backwards.” 

Chris Augsburger is more sceptical. “Cakolli wasn’t just a striker – he was a solution,” he says. “Replacing that internally is brave. Or risky.” Above them all loom the favourites. 

Luzern are widely tipped to dominate, retaining their key players and remaining fully professional – still a rarity at this level. “They have stability and infrastructure,” says Andreas Wittwer. “Gligorski is a fascinating appointment too. His success with Zürich’s women’s side shows he understands dominance and control.” 

Winterthur, despite reverting to semi-professional status, retain quality. Aarau’s recent Super League past fuels expectation. Vaduz have recruited intelligently, while Basel U21 and Young Boys U21 continue to churn out elite-level youth. Marco Streller frames Chur’s season as a philosophical test. “This is where identity is measured,” he explains. “Do they trust development, or do they discover its limits?” 

Pascal Schürpf is cautiously optimistic. “They’ve grown every year. But growth isn’t linear. At some point, you either jump – or you plateau.” As for Rotkreuz, the verdict is harsh but near-unanimous: survival looks unlikely.

Chur enter the new season not as underdogs, but as a reference point. Their attacking structure is settled, their tactical adaptability well-drilled, and their squad deeply familiar with Arriola’s demands. What they lack, critics argue, is reinforcement.

Yet perhaps that is the point. This is a club betting on cohesion, on internal evolution, and on the belief that systems – not signings – define ceilings.

Whether that belief propels them forward, or exposes the limits of continuity, will define the months ahead.