Louza spotted in training after individual pre-season programme

Watford midfielder Imran Louza appears to have joined first-team training ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Fiorentina at Vicarage Road.

The Moroccan was included in an image posted on the club's social media channels today (Tuesday).

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When Louza was left out of the squad for Saturday's 3-0 victory over Hansa Rostock, the club told The Watford Observer that he was still undergoing his own individual pre-season programme.

Imran Louza in Watford training (Image: Watford FC Instagram)

Considering the Moroccan had been back for three weeks by that stage, it appeared increasingly obvious that he was not going to be reintegrated and that both parties were working towards an anticipated sale this summer.

Louza initially returned late for pre-season, given a couple of extra weeks off having been selected for Morocco's pre-World Cup camp - though it was notable that Othmane Maamma, also in that camp, had already returned, and that Louza had deleted all reference to Watford on his social media accounts earlier in the summer.

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Former head coach Ed Still believed that his side's dreadful finish to the 2025/26 campaign could be partly attributed to the number of players who knew they would be leaving, and it was assumed Louza was among those having been promised last summer he would be allowed to seek a move if Watford weren't promoted.

Still was also public about the need to refresh the squad if the club were to seriously combat cultural issues that have dogged them for several seasons. Chairman Scott Duxbury added that "our strategy will involve moving out players who have made it clear they do not see their futures at Watford".

Imran Louza (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

The Moroccan attended the Hornets' 2-1 defeat to Boreham Wood earlier this month, and the game against Hansa on Saturday, but - as per his Instagram profile - has spent much of his time training away from London Colney since making his return.

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However, it is understood there are currently no concrete offers for first-team players to leave and it now appears to have been decided that Louza should rejoin training with the group, though that should not be taken as an indicator that his future necessarily lies at Watford.

The midfielder still has two years remaining on the long-term deal he signed back in September 2022, so the club are not yet at risk of losing him for free if he does not leave this summer.

Louza has regularly captained the Hornets since his reintegration into the team under Tom Cleverley in November 2024, winning the Player of the Season award for 2024/25 and starring in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

He has played 141 times for Watford since signing from Nantes in 2021, scoring 15 goals and assisting another 22.