Houboulang Mendes

Houboulang Mendes (born 4 May 1998) is a professional footballer who plays for 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.

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

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. 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.

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.