An all-action midfielder with an eye for goal, Oliver Lee signed his first professional with West Ham United on 29 June 2009.

The son of former Charlton Athletic, Newcastle United, West Ham and England midfielder Robert, Lee became an integral member of the Hammers' Under-18 side during the 2008/09 season, scoring three times in 22 league and cup appearances.

Lee, who names ex-Hammer Michael Carrick as his favourite player and celebrated his 18^th birthday on 11 July 2009, also forced his way into Alex Dyer's reserve side, playing eleven times in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South.

Nicknamed Olly, his career took a major step forward when he was named in the first team 18 for the Carling Cup second-round tie against Millwall on 25 August 2009. That came three days after he captained the Under-18s in their 2009/10 opening-day 2-1 win at Everton.