[citation needed] On 3 June 2013, Ionov moved to Anzhi Makhachkala for 5 million euros.

[8] Ionov was a part of the Russia U-21 side that competed in the 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualification.

He played his first competitive national team game in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on 6 September 2013.

[citation needed] On 2 June 2014, he was included in the Russia's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.

[11] He scored his first two goals for the national squad on 10 September 2018 in a friendly against the Czech Republic which was played at his club's home stadium, Rostov Arena.