Jermaine Jenas enters new relationship following marriage split
Jermaine Jenas is in a new relationship following his split from wife Ellie Penfold last year, reports BritPanorama.
The former England international, now 43, has been dating Anne, a 31-year-old brunette based in Paris, for approximately six months. This new romance comes after a tumultuous period in Jenas’s life, which included his dismissal from the BBC in August 2024 over allegations of inappropriate messages sent to female colleagues.
His marriage to Ellie Penfold, with whom he has three children, officially ended in March 2025 after 16 years together. An insider revealed that Jenas and Anne began seeing each other in December and that he has been careful to maintain a level of discretion about their relationship.
Friends note that Jenas appears to be enjoying his time with Anne, who works in the Paris property sector, and his frequent visits to the French capital underscore the seriousness of their connection. Earlier glimpses of their relationship came through subtle social media posts, where Jenas shared photos hinting at his affections, including images of Anne’s Chanel handbag.
Nevertheless, the former midfielder’s recent past remains shadowed by the events that led to his BBC exit. During a video call with network executives, Jenas learned of his dismissal while they read aloud his text messages, which he later described as deeply regrettable. “I was ashamed and had let everyone down,” he said at the time.
Although he initially hoped for reconciliation with Ellie, those aspirations were dashed when she confirmed the end of their marriage. Jenas has since turned to podcasting, hosting the football programme Wildcards alongside ex-professional Jermaine Pennant.
His life appears to be on a new trajectory, marked by a blend of personal reshaping and professional adaptation, as he now carves out a different pathway post-BBC. The continuous interplay of personal and professional realms has created a chapter in Jenas’s life that’s still being written—a reminder that for many, the pitch is just the beginning of a much larger story.
