diff --git a/app/controllers/api/v2/works_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api/v2/works_controller.rb
index 3dee15833ef..6557d24774d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/v2/works_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/v2/works_controller.rb
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def find_work_by_import_url(original_url)
       message = "Please provide the original URL for the work."
     else
       # We know the url will be identical no need for a call to find_by_url
-      works = Work.where(imported_from_url: original_url)
+      works = Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { original: original_url })
       message = if works.empty?
                   "No work has been imported from \"" + original_url + "\"."
                 else
diff --git a/app/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller.rb b/app/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller.rb
index 1f3cb805a64..f87e7b5b461 100644
--- a/app/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller.rb
@@ -46,12 +46,16 @@ def url_update
       flash[:error] = ts("The imported-from url you are trying to set doesn't seem valid.")
     else
       # check for any other works 
-      works = Work.where(imported_from_url: @imported_from_url)
+      works = Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { original: @imported_from_url })
       if works.count > 0 
         flash[:error] = ts("There is already a work imported from the url %{url}.", url: @imported_from_url)
       else
         # ok let's try to update
-        @work.update_attribute(:imported_from_url, @imported_from_url)
+        if @work.imported_url.nil?
+          @work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: @imported_from_url)
+        else
+          @work.imported_url.update(original: @imported_from_url)
+        end
         flash[:notice] = "Updated imported-from url for #{@work.title} to #{@imported_from_url}"
       end
     end    
diff --git a/app/models/search/work_indexer.rb b/app/models/search/work_indexer.rb
index f7c4c260143..c3a0dbcb6d6 100644
--- a/app/models/search/work_indexer.rb
+++ b/app/models/search/work_indexer.rb
@@ -55,9 +55,6 @@ def self.mapping
         title_to_sort_on: {
           type: "keyword"
         },
-        imported_from_url: {
-          type: "keyword"
-        },
         work_types: {
           type: "keyword"
         },
diff --git a/app/models/story_parser.rb b/app/models/story_parser.rb
index 5d60e573386..fec082e78ae 100644
--- a/app/models/story_parser.rb
+++ b/app/models/story_parser.rb
@@ -302,8 +302,7 @@ def set_work_attributes(work, location = "", options = {})
     raise Error, "Work could not be downloaded" if work.nil?
 
     @options = options
-    work.imported_from_url = location # @todo remove this as part of AO3-6979
-    work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: work.imported_from_url)
+    work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: location)
 
     work.ip_address = options[:ip_address]
     work.expected_number_of_chapters = work.chapters.length
diff --git a/app/models/work.rb b/app/models/work.rb
index 9a10e1dd0b6..74e7883b316 100755
--- a/app/models/work.rb
+++ b/app/models/work.rb
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ def expire_caches
     series.each(&:expire_caches)
 
     Work.expire_work_blurb_version(id)
-    Work.flush_find_by_url_cache unless imported_from_url.blank?
+    Work.flush_find_by_url_cache unless imported_url.nil?
   end
 
   def update_pseud_and_collection_indexes
@@ -419,16 +419,21 @@ def self.find_by_url_cache_key(url)
 
   def self.find_by_url_uncached(url)
     url = UrlFormatter.new(url)
-    Work.where(imported_from_url: url.original).first ||
-      Work.where(imported_from_url: [url.minimal,
-                                     url.with_http, url.with_https,
-                                     url.no_www, url.with_www,
-                                     url.encoded, url.decoded,
-                                     url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www]).first ||
-      Work.where("imported_from_url LIKE ? or imported_from_url LIKE ?",
-                 "http://#{url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www}%",
-                 "https://#{url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www}%").select do |w|
-        work_url = UrlFormatter.new(w.imported_from_url)
+    
+    Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { original: @imported_from_url }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { minimal: url.minimal }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { with_http: url.with_http }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { with_https: url.with_https }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { no_www: url.no_www }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { with_www: url.with_www }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { encoded: url.encoded }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { decoded: url.decoded }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { minimal_no_protocol_no_www: url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where(imported_url: { minimal: url.minimal }).first ||
+      Work.joins(:imported_url).where("imported_urls.original LIKE ? or imported_urls.original LIKE ?",
+                                      "http://#{url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www}%",
+                                      "https://#{url.minimal_no_protocol_no_www}%").select do |w|
+        work_url = UrlFormatter.new(w.imported_url&.original)
         %w[original minimal no_www with_www with_http with_https encoded decoded].any? do |method|
           work_url.send(method) == url.send(method)
         end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260519171051_remove_imported_from_url_field_from_works.rb b/db/migrate/20260519171051_remove_imported_from_url_field_from_works.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fd5b3e7d226
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20260519171051_remove_imported_from_url_field_from_works.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class RemoveImportedFromUrlFieldFromWorks < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.1]
+  uses_departure! if Rails.env.staging? || Rails.env.production?
+
+  def up
+    remove_index :works, :imported_from_url
+    remove_column :works, :imported_from_url
+  end
+
+  def down
+    raise ActiveRecord::IrreversibleMigration, "This migration cannot be reverted because we can't restore the imported_from_url column data"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake b/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake
index da057d2303f..0f6f4208cd3 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 namespace :opendoors do
-  
-  class UrlUpdater
-    def update_work(row)
-      begin
-        work = Work.find(row["AO3 id"])
-        if work&.imported_from_url.blank? || work&.imported_from_url == row["URL Imported From"]
-          work.imported_from_url = row["Original URL"]
-          work.save!
-          "#{work.id}\twas updated: its import url is now #{work.imported_from_url}"
-        else
-          "#{work.id}\twas not changed: its import url is #{work.imported_from_url}"
-        end
-      rescue StandardError => e
-        "#{row["AO3 id"]}\twas not changed: #{e}"
+  def update_work(row)
+    begin
+      work = Work.find(row["AO3 id"])
+      # ImportedUrl needs an original value, so we use the imported url temporarily and only save if we're actually updating it
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(:original => row["URL Imported From"]) if work.imported_url.nil?
+
+      if work.imported_url.original == row["URL Imported From"]
+        work.imported_url.original = row["Original URL"]
+        work.imported_url.save!
+        "#{work.id}\twas updated: its import url is now #{work.imported_url.original}"
+      else
+        "#{work.id}\twas not changed: its import url is #{work.imported_url.original}"
       end
+    rescue StandardError => e
+      "#{row["AO3 id"]}\twas not changed: #{e}"
     end
   end
   
@@ -28,10 +28,8 @@ namespace :opendoors do
 
     begin
       f = File.open("opendoors_result.txt", "w")
-      url_updater = UrlUpdater.new
-      
       CSV.foreach(loc, headers: true) do |row|
-        result = url_updater.update_work(row)
+        result = update_work(row)
         puts result
         f.write(result)
       end
diff --git a/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake b/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake
deleted file mode 100644
index 49b5a8b3e54..00000000000
--- a/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-namespace :work_import_urls do
-  desc "Backfill work_import_urls from works.imported_from_url (run BEFORE removing the column)"
-  task backfill: :environment do
-    batch_size = 1000
-
-    # Query the column directly since this task runs before column removal
-    scope = Work.where("imported_from_url IS NOT NULL AND imported_from_url != ''")
-    total = scope.count
-    processed = 0
-    failed = 0
-
-    puts "Backfilling #{total} work_import_urls records..."
-
-    scope.find_each(batch_size: batch_size) do |work|
-      next if ImportedUrl.exists?(work_id: work.id)
-
-      begin
-        work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: work.imported_from_url)
-      rescue StandardError => e
-        puts "------- Error on import for work_id #{work.id}: #{e.inspect}"
-        failed += 1
-        next
-      end
-      processed += 1
-      puts "Processed #{processed}/#{total}" if (processed % batch_size).zero?
-    end
-
-    puts "Done! Backfilled #{processed} records, failed #{failed} records."
-  end
-end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_search_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_search_spec.rb
index d2365172510..26a694eec3f 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_search_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_search_spec.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ def post_search_result(valid_params)
 
 describe "API v2 WorksController - Search", type: :request, work_search: true do
   describe "valid work URL request" do
-    let!(:work) { create(:work, imported_from_url: "foo") }
+    let!(:work) do
+      work = create(:work)
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "foo")
+      work
+    end
     
     it "returns 200 OK" do
       valid_params = { works: [{ original_urls: %w(bar foo) }] }
diff --git a/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_spec.rb
index 8b2174b8298..2a8ae3a2f30 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/api/v2/api_works_spec.rb
@@ -514,7 +514,8 @@
   end
 
   it "work_url_from_external returns the work url when a work is found" do
-    work1 = create(:work, imported_from_url: "http://foo.com")
+    work1 = create(:work)
+    work1.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: "http://foo.com")
     work_url_response = @under_test.instance_eval { find_work_by_import_url("http://foo.com") }
     expect(work_url_response[:works].first).to eq work1
   end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller_spec.rb
index 2cab4b01877..8f2418d8694 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/opendoors/tools_controller_spec.rb
@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@
 
       context "with a valid work ID" do
         let(:work) { create(:work) }
-        let(:work_with_imported_from_url) { create(:work, imported_from_url: "http://example.org/my-immortal") }
+        let!(:work_with_imported_from_url) do
+          work = create(:work)
+          work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "http://example.org/my-immortal")
+          work
+        end
 
         it "redirects to tools if imported-from URL is missing" do
           post :url_update, params: { work_url: "/works/#{work.id}/" }
@@ -80,7 +84,7 @@
         end
 
         it "redirects to tools if imported-from URL is already used in another work" do
-          url = work_with_imported_from_url.imported_from_url
+          url = work_with_imported_from_url.imported_url.original
           post :url_update, params: { work_url: "/works/#{work.id}/", imported_from_url: url }
           it_redirects_to_with_error(opendoors_tools_path(imported_from_url: url), "There is already a work imported from the url #{url}.")
         end
@@ -90,7 +94,7 @@
           post :url_update, params: { work_url: "http://example.org/works/#{work.id}/", imported_from_url: url }
           it_redirects_to_with_notice(opendoors_tools_path(imported_from_url: url), "Updated imported-from url for #{work.title} to #{url}")
           work.reload
-          expect(work.imported_from_url).to eq(url)
+          expect(work.imported_url.original).to eq(url)
         end
 
         it "updates work if imported-from URL has non-ASCII characters" do
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@
           encoded_url = URI::Parser.new.escape(url)
           it_redirects_to_with_notice(opendoors_tools_path(imported_from_url: encoded_url), "Updated imported-from url for #{work.title} to #{encoded_url}")
           work.reload
-          expect(work.imported_from_url).to eq(encoded_url)
+          expect(work.imported_url.original).to eq(encoded_url)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake_spec.rb b/spec/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake_spec.rb
index 380d71bc08c..92b8297d398 100644
--- a/spec/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/tasks/opendoors.rake_spec.rb
@@ -8,8 +8,12 @@
   original_url = "http://another/1"
   original_url2 = "http://another/2"
 
-  let!(:work_with_temp_url) { create(:work, id: id1, imported_from_url: temp_url) }
-  let!(:work_with_no_url) { create(:work, id: id2, imported_from_url: nil) }
+  let!(:work_with_temp_url) {
+    work_with_temp_url = create(:work, id: id1)
+    work_with_temp_url.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: temp_url)
+    work_with_temp_url
+  }
+  let!(:work_with_no_url) { create(:work, id: id2) }
 
   after do
     File.delete("opendoors_result.txt") if File.exist?("opendoors_result.txt")
@@ -19,8 +23,8 @@
     it "takes a path to a CSV and updates works" do
       path = file_fixture("opendoors_import_url_mapping.csv")
       subject.invoke(path)
-      expect(Work.find(work_with_temp_url.id).imported_from_url).to eq(original_url)
-      expect(Work.find(work_with_no_url.id).imported_from_url).to eq(original_url2)
+      expect(Work.find(work_with_temp_url.id).imported_url.original).to eq(original_url)
+      expect(Work.find(work_with_no_url.id).imported_url.original).to eq(original_url2)
     end
     it "fails if the CSV path is invalid" do
       expect { subject.invoke("not a path") }.to raise_error Errno::ENOENT
@@ -28,8 +32,11 @@
   end
 
   context "UrlUpdater" do
-    let(:url_updater) { UrlUpdater.new }
-    let(:work_with_other_url) { create(:work, imported_from_url: "http://another/1") }
+    let!(:work_with_other_url) do
+      work_with_other_url = create(:work)
+      work_with_other_url.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "http://another/1")
+      work_with_other_url
+    end
 
     it "returns an error if the work is not found" do
       row = {
@@ -37,7 +44,7 @@
         "Original URL" => "http://another/2",
         "AO3 id" => 7777773
       }
-      result = url_updater.update_work(row)
+      result = update_work(row)
       expect(result).to eq("7777773\twas not changed: Couldn't find Work with 'id'=7777773")
     end
     
@@ -47,7 +54,7 @@
         "Original URL" => "http://another/2",
         "AO3 id" => work_with_other_url.id
       }
-      result = url_updater.update_work(row)
+      result = update_work(row)
       expect(result).to match("\\d+\twas not changed: its import url is http://another/1")
     end
     
@@ -57,7 +64,7 @@
         "Original URL" => "http://another/2",
         "AO3 id" => work_with_no_url.id
       }
-      result = url_updater.update_work(row)
+      result = update_work(row)
       expect(result).to match("\\d+\twas updated: its import url is now http://another/2")
     end
     
@@ -67,7 +74,7 @@
         "Original URL" => "http://another/2",
         "AO3 id" => work_with_temp_url.id
       }
-      result = url_updater.update_work(row)
+      result = update_work(row)
       expect(result).to match("\\d+\twas updated: its import url is now http://another/2")
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake_spec.rb b/spec/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake_spec.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 77270a1d4ae..00000000000
--- a/spec/lib/tasks/work_import_urls.rake_spec.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-require "spec_helper"
-require "rake"
-
-describe "rake work_import_urls:backfill" do
-  it "should import the urls" do
-    work = create(:work)
-    work.imported_from_url = "http://www.trickster.org/llwyden/misc/cracked.html"
-    work.save!(validate: false)
-
-    work_not_migrate = create(:work)
-    work_not_migrate.imported_from_url = ""
-    work_not_migrate.save!(validate: false)
-
-    subject.invoke
-
-    expect(ImportedUrl.count).to eq(1)
-    expect(ImportedUrl.first.original).to eq(work.imported_from_url)
-
-    subject.invoke
-
-    expect(ImportedUrl.count).to eq(1)
-  end
-end
diff --git a/spec/models/story_parser_spec.rb b/spec/models/story_parser_spec.rb
index 7cd2cc532d7..60d1464d26e 100644
--- a/spec/models/story_parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/story_parser_spec.rb
@@ -117,19 +117,22 @@ class StoryParser
     let(:location_partial_match) { "http://testme.org/welcome_to_test_vale/12345" }
 
     it "should recognise previously imported www. works" do
-      @work = FactoryBot.create(:work, imported_from_url: location_with_www)
+      @work = FactoryBot.create(:work)
+      @work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: location_with_www)
 
       expect { @sp.check_for_previous_import(location_no_www) }.to raise_exception(StoryParser::Error)
     end
 
     it "should recognise previously imported non-www. works" do
-      @work = FactoryBot.create(:work, imported_from_url: location_no_www)
+      @work = FactoryBot.create(:work)
+      @work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: location_no_www)
 
       expect { @sp.check_for_previous_import(location_with_www) }.to raise_exception(StoryParser::Error)
     end
 
     it "should not perform a partial match on work import locations" do
-      @work = create(:work, imported_from_url: location_partial_match)
+      @work = create(:work)
+      @work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: location_partial_match)
 
       expect { @sp.check_for_previous_import("http://testme.org/welcome_to_test_vale/123") }.to_not raise_exception
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/work_spec.rb b/spec/models/work_spec.rb
index ad4a102125f..63cdf502aee 100644
--- a/spec/models/work_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/work_spec.rb
@@ -360,7 +360,8 @@
          http://lj-site.com/bar/foo?color=blue
          https://www.lj-site.com/bar/foo?color=blue
          http://www.foo.com/bar https://www.foo.com/bar].each do |url|
-        work = create(:work, imported_from_url: url)
+        work = create(:work)
+        work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: url)
         expect(Work.find_by_url(url)).to eq(work)
         work.destroy
       end
@@ -372,33 +373,38 @@
         "http://efiction-site.com/viewstory.php?sid=123" => "http://efiction-site.com/viewstory.php?sid=456",
         "http://www.foo.com/i-am-something" => "http://foo.com/i-am-something/else"
       }.each do |import_url, find_url|
-        work = create(:work, imported_from_url: import_url)
+        work = create(:work)
+        work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: import_url)
         expect(Work.find_by_url(find_url)).to_not eq(work)
         work.destroy
       end
     end
 
     it "should find works imported with irrelevant query parameters" do
-      work = create(:work, imported_from_url: "http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
+      work = create(:work)
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
       expect(Work.find_by_url("http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=other")).to eq(work)
       work.destroy
     end
 
     it "finds works imported with HTTP protocol and irrelevant query parameters" do
-      work = create(:work, imported_from_url: "http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
+      work = create(:work)
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
       expect(Work.find_by_url("https://lj-site.com/thing1?style=other")).to eq(work)
       work.destroy
     end
 
     it "finds works imported with HTTPS protocol and irrelevant query parameters" do
-      work = create(:work, imported_from_url: "https://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
+      work = create(:work)
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.create(original: "https://lj-site.com/thing1?style=mine")
       expect(Work.find_by_url("http://lj-site.com/thing1?style=other")).to eq(work)
       work.destroy
     end
 
     it "gets the work from cache when searching for an imported work by URL" do
       url = "http://lj-site.com/thing2"
-      work = create(:work, imported_from_url: url)
+      work = create(:work)
+      work.imported_url = ImportedUrl.new(original: url)
       expect(Rails.cache.read(Work.find_by_url_cache_key(url))).to be_nil
       expect(Work.find_by_url(url)).to eq(work)
       expect(Rails.cache.read(Work.find_by_url_cache_key(url))).to eq(work)
diff --git a/test/fixtures/imported_urls.yml b/test/fixtures/imported_urls.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5e08485005f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/imported_urls.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+--- 
+imported_url_00001: 
+  created_at: 2008-12-06 22:56:52 Z
+  updated_at: 2008-12-06 22:56:52 Z
+  id: 1
+  work_id: 82
+  original: http://www.trickster.org/llwyden/misc/cracked.html
+  minimal: 
+  minimal_no_protocol_no_www: 
+  no_www: 
+  with_www: 
+  with_http: 
+  with_https: 
+  encoded: 
+  decoded: