Ionanidze spent his youth years at
Samgurali where he made his senior
Umaglesi Liga debut on 31 March 1990 in a 3–1 loss to
Kolkheti Khobi. After three seasons in which he netted 15 times in 67 league ties, Ionanidze joined his hometown club
Torpedo Kutaisi for a first spell. In 1993, Ionanidze moved to
Samtredia. Especially prolific was his
third season, when he scored 23 goals in 15 league games. In total, as Samtredia finished in the top four each time, Ionanidze accrued 49 goals in 71 appearances. Between 1997 and 2004, he was a member of Torpedo Kutaisi again, contributing to their highly successful and trophy-laden years. In the same year, he lifted his first trophy after winning the
national cup with Torpedo. During the next three seasons, Ionanidze claimed another cup and three champion's titles while twice he finished as a league topscorer. In 1999, he entered
100 Club of players with a hundred and more goals in the national league. In 2004, Ionanidze joined recently formed club
Zestaponi where he would win his third cup four years later. On 16 May 2007, he scored against
Kakheti to reach 200 goals. On 2 November 2008, Ionanidze played the 400th game of his Umaglesi Liga career. A year later, he made his final appearance in a 2–0 win over
Samredia. Ionanidze announced retirement in early 2010 at the age of 38. ==International career==