Watford have parted ways with midfielder Imran Louza, with the 27-year-old understood to have completed a move to Greek side Panathinaikos for a fee in the region of £7m. According to BBC Sport, the deal is done on a four-year contract, ending what has been a significant chapter in the Moroccan international's career at Vicarage Road.

A key figure shown the door

The departure will raise eyebrows among Hornets supporters. Louza was instrumental for Watford across the entirety of last season, registering seven goals and nine assists in 42 Championship appearances. Those are the numbers of a player who genuinely shapes a side at this level, and losing him represents a considerable shift in the squad's creative make-up heading into this campaign.

He had also served as club captain, though new head coach Alessio Dionisi made the decision to hand the armband to centre-back Mattie Pollock before the current season got under way. That change in role is understood to have contributed to the circumstances that led to his exit. Louza's only appearance this summer was a 20-minute run-out in a pre-season friendly against Fiorentina; he was not selected for any competitive fixture this term.

Five years at the club, with a loan interlude

Louza initially arrived at Watford from French club Nantes in the summer of 2021. His time at the club was not entirely unbroken: in January 2024, he returned to France on a five-month loan with Lorient before coming back to Vicarage Road the following summer. In total, the report indicates he made 141 appearances in all competitions for the club, contributing 15 goals across those outings. Over the past two seasons alone he featured 81 times, underlining just how central he had been to the first-team picture.

What it means for Dionisi's rebuild

The £7m figure, if confirmed, would represent meaningful income for a Championship club looking to reshape its squad. Dionisi has already been navigating a busy early part of the window, and the funds raised from Louza's sale give the Watford hierarchy something to work with as they look to reinforce elsewhere.

The concern for supporters is straightforward: who replaces the creativity he provided? Louza's nine assists last season placed him among the most productive midfielders in the division, and that kind of output is not easily replicated. Whether Watford move quickly to bring in a like-for-like replacement, or trust in the players already at Dionisi's disposal, remains to be seen.

Born in France, Louza has represented Morocco at senior international level, and at 27 he is heading to Athens at something of a crossroads in his career. For Panathinaikos, the reported fee suggests they regard him as a genuine statement signing. For Watford, it is a sale that solves one problem while creating another, and how the club responds between now and the close of the transfer window will say much about their ambitions for the season ahead.

Frequently asked

Why did Imran Louza leave Watford?
According to reports, Louza lost the club captaincy to centre-back Mattie Pollock under new head coach Alessio Dionisi and did not feature in a competitive game this season, contributing to his departure for Panathinaikos.
How much did Watford sell Louza for?
BBC Sport reports the fee is in the region of £7m, with Louza signing a four-year contract with Greek club Panathinaikos.
How many goals and assists did Louza get for Watford last season?
Louza scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 42 Championship appearances for Watford last season, making him one of the division's standout midfielders.