Houboulang Mendes

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Houboulang Mendes

| image = Houboulang Mendes.jpg

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|5|4}}

| birth_place = Courcouronnes, France

| height = 1.84m

| position = Right back

| currentclub = Troyes
(on loan from Almería)

| clubnumber = 17

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Viry-Châtillon

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Juvisy-sur-Orge AF

| youthyears3 = 2013–2015

| youthclubs3 = Laval

| years1 = 2015–2018

| clubs1 = Laval II

| caps1 = 15

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2017–2018

| clubs2 = Laval

| caps2 = 28

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2018–2022

| clubs3 = Lorient

| caps3 = 77

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019

| clubs4 = Lorient II

| caps4 = 2

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022–

| clubs5 = Almería

| caps5 = 21

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024

| clubs6 = → Mirandés (loan)

| caps6 = 5

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2024–

| clubs7 = → Troyes (loan)

| caps7 = 29

| goals7 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2023–

| nationalteam1 = Guinea-Bissau

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 11 May 2025

| ntupdate = 22 January 2024

}}

Houboulang Mendes (born 4 May 1998) is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 2 side ES Troyes AC, on loan from {{Spanish football updater|Almería}} club UD Almería. Mainly a right back, he can also play as a central defender.{{soccerway|houboulang-mendes/406075}} Born in France, he plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team.

Club career

Mendes joined Laval' youth setup at the age of 15, after playing for Juvisy-sur-Orge AF and ES Viry-Châtillon.{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/football/stade-lavallois/laval-houboulang-mendes-n-pas-fini-de-grandir-5337879|title=À Laval, Houboulang Mendes n’a pas fini de grandir|trans-title=In Laval, Houboulang Mendes has not finished growing|publisher=Ouest-France|language=fr|date=27 October 2017}} After playing for the reserve team, he made his first team debut on 19 May 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Malik Couturier in a 2–1 Ligue 2 home loss against Nîmes Olympique, as his side was already relegated.

A regular starter in the 2017–18 Championnat National, Mendes left Laval on 24 July 2018, and signed a four-year deal with FC Lorient in the second division.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Houboulang-mendes-laval-signe-pour-quatre-ans-a-lorient/925366|title=Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signe pour quatre ans à Lorient|trans-title=Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signs for four years with Lorient|publisher=L'Équipe|language=fr|date=24 July 2018|accessdate=11 July 2022}} He was regularly used until February 2019, when he suffered a knee injury.{{cite web|url=https://maligue2.fr/2019/02/05/lorient-lesion-du-ligament-croise-du-genou-droit-pour-houboulang-mendes-qui-va-etre-opere/|title=Lorient – Lésion du ligament croisé du genou droit pour Houboulang Mendes, qui va être opéré|trans-title=Lorient – Anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee of Houboulang Mendes, who will undergo surgery|publisher=MaLigue2|language=fr|date=5 February 2019|accessdate=11 July 2022}}

Mendes returned to action in October 2019, playing for the B-side before making three first team appearances as Lorient achieved promotion to Ligue 1. He made his debut in the category on 23 August 2020, starting in a 3–1 home win over RC Strasbourg Alsace.

On 6 July 2022, Mendes moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing a four-year contract with La Liga side UD Almería.{{cite web|publisher=Almería|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/notice/ud-almeria-strengthen-back-line-with-signing-of-houboulang-mendes|title=UD Almeria strengthen back-line with signing of Houboulang Mendes|date=6 July 2022|access-date=7 July 2022}} Initially a backup to Alejandro Pozo, he was demoted to third-choice after the arrival of Marc Pubill, and was loaned to Segunda División side CD Mirandés on 1 February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/noticias/mendes-quinto-jugador-en-salir-cedido-se-va-al-mirandes|title=Mendes, quinto jugador en salir cedido, se va al Mirandés|trans-title=Mendes, fifth player to leave on loan, goes to Mirandés|publisher=UD Almería|language=es|date=1 February 2024|accessdate=1 February 2024}}

On 27 August 2024, Mendes returned to France after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with ES Troyes AC.{{cite web|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/news/mendes-se-marcha-cedido-al-troyes-de-la-ligue-2-de-francia|title=Mendes shipped out to French side ESTAC Troyes|publisher=UD Almería|date=27 August 2024|accessdate=28 August 2024}}

International career

Born in Courcouronnes, France, Mendes is of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean descent. He was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national team for a set of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in September 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.odemocratagb.com/?p=45790|title=Qualificação CAN’2023: BACIRO CANDÉ CHAMA ALAMA, OBLAK E PANOBU|website=O Democrata GB}}