This week, Under-21s goalkeeper Harry Lee reflects on his unconventional journey from Devon non-league football to Palace, the setbacks that shaped him and his excellent start to 2026/27.
Young Eagle: Harry Lee
Our Young Eagle series gets to know the Academy prospects kicking off their careers at Crystal Palace.
I’m feeling good at the minute
—Harry Lee
It’s been quite a start to the season for Lee...
The ‘keeper produced a brilliant display against Aston Villa over the Bank Holiday weekend, making eight saves to keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 Premier League 2 victory – the top tier of Under-21s league football in England.
He then saved a penalty on the stroke of half-time against Paris Saint-Germain as the Young Eagles opened their Premier League International Cup campaign – a competition featuring 16 Premier League 2 sides and 16 invited European clubs – with a 2-1 win.
“Yeah, I’m feeling good at the minute. We’ve got a good team and we’re winning games. If you don’t feel good when you’re winning games, then what’s the point of being in football?”
Lee has also embraced his role as one of the more experienced members of a young U21s squad, largely comprised of last season’s history-making U18s.
“I know what sort of keeper I am. I know what I’ve got in the locker, so I’m not really surprised by it.
“I feel like, because I’m one of the oldest, I have to be that experienced player because obviously the team is quite young. They have to lean on people like me and Adz (Adler Nascimento), so I have to be a role model to the boys.
“I feel like that has probably helped me as well this season.”
Learning at such a young age was massive
—Harry Lee
Lee began his journey at Torquay United as an outfield player before taking part in a separate ‘keeping trial when he was 10.
“I was at Torquay for a year. I went on trial as an outfield player when I was 10 and then they did one separately for ‘keepers. They said they wanted to sign me as a ‘keeper.”
When Torquay’s academy closed following the club’s relegation into non-league football, Lee moved to nearby Exeter City as an Under-11.
He helped Exeter win the Category Three Floodlit Cup twice, before his rapid progress saw him involved with the first team at just 15.
Lee earned his senior debut in the EFL Trophy against Chelsea U21s and later saved two penalties in a shootout victory over Cheltenham Town.
“I was 16 when we played Cheltenham. We beat them on penalties and I saved two.”
His first taste of the loan system, however, was far less enjoyable.
At 16, Lee joined Southern League Premier Division South side Dorchester Town, where his introduction to regular senior football proved a difficult one.
“It went horrible. It was so bad. One of the first games was Dorchester against Poole, which is a local derby, and we lost 4-1. I got headbutted from a corner, had a massive black eye and couldn't see anything for the rest of the game.”
Three games later, Lee contracted COVID and was recalled by Exeter before a brief spell at Tavistock.
“You’re 16 and you see stuff and you hear stuff. At the time it was horrible. But it helped me because I realised I had to fill out, get bigger and stronger and know the game more.
“If I didn’t have those experiences, I don’t know what sort of keeper I’d be now. I would have experienced everything later. Learning at such a young age was massive.”
I was so nervous, but it was the best feeling
—Harry Lee
A year later, Lee returned to Dorchester and impressed enough to extend an initial month-long loan until the end of the season.
“I felt like I had to do well at that loan. If you go on loan for a third time and don’t do well, you’re kind of killing yourself. I put so much pressure on myself to do well.
“To be fair, the manager was top for me.”
Lee was recalled to Exeter after the manager departed for Rotherham United, and soon came the moment every young 'keeper dreams of...
With Exeter’s regular 'keeper injured, Lee came on for the final 10 minutes away to Derby County at the start of the 22/23 season, it was his EFL league debut.
“I was so nervous, but it was the best feeling. I think there were about 25,000 fans there.
“I came on, took a few crosses and made a few kicks. Luckily, all their shots went over or wide, and we kept a clean sheet. We held out for 0-0.”
That loan was vital
—Harry Lee
Further loan spells with Plymouth Parkway and Weston-Super-Mare followed.
His next major challenge came at Salisbury in February 2024. Joining with the side pushing for promotion, Lee was injured three games into his spell, returned for one match and then broke his arm, resulting in five months on the sidelines.
Salisbury ultimately secured promotion, but Lee could only watch from Exeter as he completed his rehabilitation.
“It was so frustrating because Salisbury were second at the time and we were still going for the league. Then I broke my arm. You don’t know what’s going to happen next because you’re out for five months.
“They got into the play-offs and got promoted, so obviously I missed out on a promotion.”
After another spell at Plymouth Parkway, Lee returned to Dorchester in February 2025 for what he considers his best loan.
The club were fighting to remain in the play-offs when he arrived. By the end of the season, they had secured their place, helped by a dramatic 96th-minute winner at Hungerford.
“That loan was vital. I was unbelievable from the time I joined until we got to the play-offs. Luckily, because I had such a successful loan, some big teams came in.”
Saving three penalties was definitely one of last season's highlights
—Harry Lee
Palace ultimately won the race for his signature in the summer of 2025. After 10 years at Exeter and a career forged through the realities of non-league football, arriving in SE25 offered a different environment.
“Coming here and seeing the facilities, it’s a different world compared to League One. I’d been on loan at non-league clubs as well, so coming here and seeing everything pretty much made my mind up.”
Lee began 25/26 as the U21s’ No.1 before Jackson Izquierdo took the shirt, forcing him to fight his way back into the team.
When his opportunity arrived against West Ham in February, Lee admits it was a nervous moment.
“I just needed to find that consistency. When I came back into the team at West Ham, I think I was the most nervous I’d been because I knew I had to play well.
“I just wanted to be consistent and play well, and I think I did that.”
He carried that scintillating run of form into the end of the campaign, producing one of his biggest moments in the Premier League 2 play-off round of 16 victory over Liverpool on penalties.
“Saving the three penalties was definitely one of the highlights of that season, it was so good."
I know I’ve got that in the locker, I just need to show it more often
—Harry Lee
Now, at the start of his second season with Palace, Lee is showing the consistency he has long sought.
Against Aston Villa in Palace's second Premier League 2 outing, he made several outstanding saves to preserve a much-deserved clean sheet as Palace secured their first win of the campaign.
“I like playing at Villa. I think they had eight shots and I made eight saves. That’s quite a lot for one game.
“I know I’ve got that in the locker. I just need to show it more often. I’ve done it at other places where I’ve made save after save, but obviously I think Villa was a really good game for me.”
Lee’s penalty save against PSG preserved Palace’s advantage, although he was quick to share the credit with U21s goalkeeper coach – club legend Julian Speroni – who had identified the taker’s preferred direction shortly before kick-off.
“I’ve got to give most of the credit to Jules for that one. We didn’t have the penalty taker down, but just before we went out for the game, Jules came up to me and said, ‘Number 47 goes to the right.’
“So when number 47 came up, I knew which way it was going.”
From Torquay to Exeter, difficult loans to successful ones, injuries, promotion heartbreak and the pressure of fighting for his place, every chapter has helped shape the ‘keeper Lee is today.
You can watch Harry Lee in action throughout the season, with select Premier League 2 and Premier League International Cup fixtures broadcast LIVE on Palace TV+!