Houboulang Mendes (born 4 May 1998) is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 2 side ES Troyes AC, on loan from Segunda División club UD Almería. Mainly a right back, he can also play as a central defender.[1] Born in France, he plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team.

Houboulang Mendes
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-05-04) 4 May 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Courcouronnes, France
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
Troyes
(on loan from Almería)
Youth career
Viry-Châtillon
Juvisy-sur-Orge AF
2013–2015 Laval
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Laval II 15 (0)
2017–2018 Laval 28 (0)
2018–2022 Lorient 77 (0)
2019 Lorient II 2 (0)
2022– Almería 21 (0)
2024Mirandés (loan) 5 (0)
2024–Troyes (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2023– Guinea-Bissau 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 January 2024

Club career

edit

Mendes joined Laval' youth setup at the age of 15, after playing for Juvisy-sur-Orge AF and ES Viry-Châtillon.[2] 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.[3] He was regularly used until February 2019, when he suffered a knee injury.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

On 27 August 2024, Mendes returned to France after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with ES Troyes AC.[7]

International career

edit

Born in Courcouronnes, France, Mendes is of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean descent.[2] He was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national team for a set of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in September 2023.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ Houboulang Mendes at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b "À Laval, Houboulang Mendes n'a pas fini de grandir" [In Laval, Houboulang Mendes has not finished growing] (in French). Ouest-France. 27 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signe pour quatre ans à Lorient" [Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signs for four years with Lorient] (in French). L'Équipe. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Lorient – Lésion du ligament croisé du genou droit pour Houboulang Mendes, qui va être opéré" [Lorient – Anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee of Houboulang Mendes, who will undergo surgery] (in French). MaLigue2. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ "UD Almeria strengthen back-line with signing of Houboulang Mendes". Almería. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Mendes, quinto jugador en salir cedido, se va al Mirandés" [Mendes, fifth player to leave on loan, goes to Mirandés] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Mendes shipped out to French side ESTAC Troyes". UD Almería. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Qualificação CAN'2023: BACIRO CANDÉ CHAMA ALAMA, OBLAK E PANOBU". O Democrata GB.
edit