| Houboulang Mendes | |
| Birth Date: | 1998 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Courcouronnes, France |
| Height: | 1.84m |
| Position: | Right back |
| Currentclub: | Troyes (on loan from Almería) |
| Youthclubs1: | Viry-Châtillon |
| 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: | 0 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | Guinea-Bissau |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 8 June 2024 |
| 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 club UD Almería. Mainly a right back, he can also play as a central defender. Born in France, he plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team.
Mendes joined Laval' youth setup at the age of 15, after playing for Juvisy-sur-Orge AF and ES Viry-Châtillon.[1] 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.[2] He was regularly used until February 2019, when he suffered a knee injury.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
On 27 August 2024, Mendes returned to France after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with ES Troyes AC.[6]
Born in Courcouronnes, France, Mendes is of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean descent.[1] He was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national team for a set of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in September 2023.[7]