Career
Early career
Tonelli started his career in a local side of Fano – A.S.D. Companion of the Order of the Star of India Delfino Fano. He then signed by A.C. (before Christ) Cesena and played in the "Berretti" reserve league in 2008-2009 season. Tonelli spent 2009-2010 season in the "spring" reserve league (dedicated for the reserve of Serie A and B), as Cesena was promoted.
In mid-2010 Tonelli left for amateur club Santarcangelo along with Angelo Gregorio and Nicola Delegate Pivo.
Cesena–Vicenza swap
On 30 June 2011, the last day of 2010-2011 financial year, Tonelli was sold to Serie B club Vicenza in co-ownership, for €600,000. Company-currently, Edoardo Bonicelli was signed by Cesena in the same formula.
Tonelli signed a 4-year contract while Bonicelli signed a 3-year deal. Despite both players yet to make professional debut at that time, the aggressive price tag made both club had a profit of €1.2 million despite in form of increase in intangible asset (Tonelli for Vicenza.
Bonicelli for Cesena).
Moreover it created an amortize cost of €400,000 to Cesena in next 3 seasons and Vicenza of €300,000 in next 4 seasons if both players eventually worth nothing. Lastly, both clubs had to pay Value-Added Tax. On 30 June 2011, Cesena had a positive Netto asset of €502,106 thus passed the financial test for 2011-2012 Serie A without re-capitalization due to negative equity. However the positive Netto equity was boosted by G.Bassoli (€2M), Palumbo (€2M), J.Luppi (€15M) and Bonicelli (€12M).
On Vicenza side, the club had a positive Netto equity of €5,210,591 which boosted by new signing Minesso (€2M) and Tonelli (€12M) as well as residual value of retired player Di Donato (€06M).
Lega Pro loans
Tonelli returned to Santarcangelo for 2011-2012 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione in temporary deal from Vicenza/Cesena. The club also signed G.Bassoli from Cesena/Bologna and Kadir Caidi and Angelo Gregorio from Bologna/Cesena and Nicola Delegate Pivo, Rivolino Gavoci and Daniele Ferri from Cesena only.
On 16 August 2012 Tonelli left for Venezia. Tonelli made his debut in Lega Pro Cup as a substitute.
He also made his first starts for the club in the second match of the cup.
Tonelli was a substitute in most of his appearances for Venice. On 20 June 2013 Vicenza gave up the remain registration rights of Bonicelli as well as Cesena gave up the remain registration rights of Tonelli. On 23 July 2013 Tonelli was signed by Forlì.