By mid August, the transfer window has settled into a rhythm that feels entirely familiar to those of us who follow Chur closely. From outside Graubünden, the expectation was a flurry of activity, of names and headlines, a window full of urgency. From inside, the pattern has been different. The window has moved at its own measured pace, shaped by intention rather than impulse, and the arrival of Mikel Martija alongside Iñaki Arriola has sharpened that intention even further.

What stands out most is not simply who has arrived, but how each decision reflects a precise understanding of the club’s context. Chur have made it clear that they have studied roles, environments, and how pressure would be experienced over the course of a demanding season. The search for a new number one illustrated this perfectly. We were told that three goalkeepers were assessed, each representing a distinct philosophy. Renato, Roberto Varela, and Laro Gomes were never variations of the same idea. They were answers to different questions. 

Brazilian born to Italian parents and Basel raised via the Bologna academy, Renato’s profile – after a relegation at Lugano – spoke of survival under strain. He is a goalkeeper built to meet high volumes of action, a specialist in intervention rather than orchestration but a man who is not afraid to step off his line and sweep up overhit passes. He makes saves because saves are required, often and repeatedly, rather than to dominate the game. His previous experience in the Swiss top flight had exposed him to sustained pressure, preparing him for exactly this type of responsibility, where control is earned through resilience. For a newly promoted side anticipating stretches without territorial dominance, that experience matters.

Varela, lastly of Tenerife, offered balance and continuity, a goalkeeper whose presence stabilises a system already in control, quietly preserving structure and reducing volatility. Gomes, by contrast, reflected exposure without authority, involvement without influence, reacting without reshaping the game around him. Originally from Zaragoza, the shot stopper had endured a torrid time on loan at FC Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, and was considered as a player – clearly – who would bring top flight experience. 

Viewed side by side, the choice became clear. Chur selected the goalkeeper who best defined how pressure would be experienced rather than how possession would be expressed. Renato’sarrival signals confidence in growth as much as it safeguards against moments of defensive strain. A loan with a mandatory future fee of €65k should Chur stay in the top flight feels to me like a bargain. Whether there was truly any realism in these other rumours remains to be seen, as we know Chur like to keep these moves as quiet as possible.

Attention then shifted to midfield, where the signing of Xavier Jenkinson feels especially revealing. On paper, he fits neatly into modern classifications as a hybrid 6 or 8, flexible, mobile, comfortable in possession, capable of stepping beyond the base when space opens. On the pitch, however, his football belongs to a quieter, older tradition. In Basque terms, he is an interior trabajador. A regulator. A player whose value lies in what does not happen when he is present. Space does not unravel. Distances remain compact. Emotional temperature stays controlled. His role is preventative, rooted in positional loyalty and collective awareness. The comparison with Basque and Athletic Club legend Mikel Vesga is illuminating. Like Vesga, Jenkinson earns trust through reliability rather than spectacle. Yet there is a modern sharpness to his game. Once stability is secured, he transmits intent. He steps forward with purpose, not impulse. His progression is conditional, guided by the system rather than personal instinct. This makes him particularly valuable in a team navigating multiple phases of play. He supports possession without distorting it. He defends transitions by delaying rather than chasing. He allows others to take risks because he safeguards the balance beneath them.

Jenkinson’s signing also reflects a continued adherence to a recruitment philosophy that has defined some of football’s most iconic fairytales: talent identified below the surface, valued for trajectory rather than reputation. From Jamie Vardy at Fleetwood Town to Leicester City, from N’Golo Kanté at Caen to Premier League dominance with Leicester and Chelsea, from Riyad Mahrez at Le Havre to continental glory with Manchester City, from Dele Alli at MK Dons to Spurs’ Champions League runs, to Luca Toni’s late move from Vicenza to Bayern Munich, history reassures us that level of origin rarely dictates ultimate success. Jenkinson fits that mould. His profile suggested he could contribute in ways others might overlook, and the reported optional fee of just €85,000 at the end of a year long loan hints at a masterstroke of opportunity rather than compromise.

The player he replaces is not a direct like-for-like. Less of a quarterback than Luchinger, more of a runner, more of a tackler, and less reliant on extended possession, Jenkinson still covers two roles simultaneously. He connects play while sustaining energy, balancing defensive discipline with carefully measured support in transition. Early reports about his time in the second tier and prior loan in the third at Neuchâtel Xamax could raise eyebrows for some, yet within Arriola’s framework, these details may well enhance rather than hinder.

The right-back situation unfolded in a similar fashion. Theo Magnin’s departure created a need rather than a headline, and the arrival of Leandro Carvalhoon loan from Estrela Amadora addressed it directly. Another player with an optional fee built in – this time €120k – it shows a clear shift in the transfer mentality and the longer-term alignment of the squad than ever before. Mentally robust, vertically inclined, and shaped by a system that values intensity and clarity, he demonstrates qualities that fit seamlessly into Arriola’s footballing language. Nine goal contributions in the Portuguese second tier reflect involvement without excess, measured risk, and tactical intelligence. Nationality mattered less than alignment. A different type of full back to Alexandre Vayvendaz but a key element to the squad building process.

Finally, the addition of Nicolas Vouilloz brings experience in its purest form. Over 400 appearances at this level with Sion, Basel, and Servette carry knowledge that cannot be taught. His presence strengthens the dressing room as much as the defensive line, providing reference points in moments when composure defines outcomes.

Perhaps most telling has been the club’s decision to maintain faith in the backbone of the last years of success. Seven of the top ten highest goal contributors remain in the squad, reflecting a deliberate commitment to continuity. Only Dion Cakolli, Matteo Gambardella, and Nico Ruffieux have departed from their top ten list, leaving the team with the core that helped get them this far. Inaki’s approach is clear: the plan is not to start over, but to build on what already works, preserving chemistry while adding the pieces that elevate the side to a new level of challenge.

Taken together, this window feels unmistakably Chur. Grounded, deliberate, and confident in its reasoning. There is no rush, no noise, only a series of considered decisions that suggest a club fully aware of where it stands, what it values, and how it intends to grow. Retaining the players who delivered success, while adding targeted reinforcements, demonstrates a vision that is patient yet purposeful. 

Every signing, every retention, every role studied, points to a club thinking as carefully about the next phase as it did about the last. In Graubünden, this is not simply football business; this is football with a plan, a philosophy, and a long horizon in mind