diff --git a/.github/actions/verify-sqlclient/action.yml b/.github/actions/verify-sqlclient/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..681ea1fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/verify-sqlclient/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+name: Verify SqlClient runtime asset
+description: Verifies that Microsoft.Data.SqlClient loads from the platform-specific runtime asset.
+
+inputs:
+  module-path:
+    description: Path to the dbatools.library module manifest.
+    required: false
+    default: ./artifacts/dbatools.library/dbatools.library.psd1
+  core-lib-path:
+    description: Path to the built core/lib directory.
+    required: false
+    default: ./artifacts/dbatools.library/core/lib
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Verify SqlClient runtime asset selection
+      shell: pwsh
+      run: |
+        Import-Module "${{ inputs.module-path }}" -Force
+
+        $sqlClient = [System.AppDomain]::CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies() |
+          Where-Object { $_.GetName().Name -eq 'Microsoft.Data.SqlClient' } |
+          Select-Object -First 1
+
+        if (-not $sqlClient) {
+          throw "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient was not loaded"
+        }
+
+        $location = $sqlClient.Location.Replace('/', '\')
+        $expected = if ($IsWindows) {
+          "runtimes\win\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"
+        } else {
+          "runtimes\unix\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"
+        }
+
+        if ($location -notlike "*$expected") {
+          throw "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient loaded from unexpected path: $($sqlClient.Location)"
+        }
+
+        if ($IsWindows) {
+          $sniPath = Join-Path "${{ inputs.core-lib-path }}" "runtimes/win-x64/native/Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.dll"
+          if (-not (Test-Path $sniPath)) {
+            throw "Missing Windows x64 SqlClient native SNI DLL at $sniPath"
+          }
+        }
+
+        Write-Host "SqlClient runtime asset verified: $($sqlClient.Location)"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
index 1fc0552d..6e1fea1b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
@@ -201,6 +201,9 @@ jobs:
             New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path /tmp/DbatoolsExport -Force | Out-Null
           }
 
+      - name: Verify SqlClient runtime asset selection
+        uses: ./.github/actions/verify-sqlclient
+
       - name: Install SqlPackagetests
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 6d4b3a0d..e375ed83 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ jobs:
         Write-Host "Loaded dbatools.library version: $($module.Version)"
         Write-Host "Module path: $($module.Path)"
 
+    - name: Verify SqlClient runtime asset selection
+      uses: ./.github/actions/verify-sqlclient
+
     - name: Test AvoidConflicts with SqlServer module (Windows PowerShell 5.1)
       shell: powershell
       run: |
diff --git a/build/build.ps1 b/build/build.ps1
index deaf134a..0a937275 100644
--- a/build/build.ps1
+++ b/build/build.ps1
@@ -134,8 +134,6 @@ if (Test-Path $coreRuntimesPath) {
     }
 }
 
-Copy-Item (Join-Path $libPath "core\lib\runtimes\unix\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll") -Destination (Join-Path $libPath "core/lib/") -Force
-
 if ($CoreOnly) {
     Write-Host "CoreOnly specified - returning after core build"
     return
@@ -296,6 +294,8 @@ $validationErrors = @()
 # Check for critical runtime dependencies
 $criticalFiles = @(
     @{Path = "core\lib\runtimes\win-x64\native\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.dll"; Description = ".NET Core SNI DLL (Windows x64)"},
+    @{Path = "core\lib\runtimes\win\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"; Description = ".NET Core SqlClient (Windows runtime asset)"},
+    @{Path = "core\lib\runtimes\unix\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"; Description = ".NET Core SqlClient (Unix runtime asset)"},
     @{Path = "core\lib\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"; Description = ".NET Core SqlClient"},
     @{Path = "desktop\lib\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"; Description = ".NET Framework SqlClient"},
     @{Path = "core\lib\dbatools.dll"; Description = ".NET Core dbatools assembly"},
@@ -312,6 +312,19 @@ foreach ($file in $criticalFiles) {
     }
 }
 
+$coreSqlClientPath = Join-Path $libPath "core\lib\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"
+$coreUnixSqlClientPath = Join-Path $libPath "core\lib\runtimes\unix\lib\net8.0\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll"
+if ((Test-Path $coreSqlClientPath) -and (Test-Path $coreUnixSqlClientPath)) {
+    $coreSqlClientHash = (Get-FileHash -Path $coreSqlClientPath -Algorithm SHA256).Hash
+    $coreUnixSqlClientHash = (Get-FileHash -Path $coreUnixSqlClientPath -Algorithm SHA256).Hash
+    if ($coreSqlClientHash -eq $coreUnixSqlClientHash) {
+        Write-Host "[ERROR] core\lib\Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll matches the Unix runtime asset" -ForegroundColor Red
+        $validationErrors += "Core SqlClient was overwritten with the Unix runtime asset"
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "[OK] Core SqlClient root assembly was not overwritten with the Unix runtime asset" -ForegroundColor Green
+    }
+}
+
 # Check if runtimes folder structure exists
 if (Test-Path (Join-Path $libPath "core\lib\runtimes")) {
     Write-Host "[OK] Runtimes folder structure preserved" -ForegroundColor Green
@@ -332,4 +345,4 @@ if ($env:GITHUB_ACTIONS -and $LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) {
     exit 0
 } else {
     exit $LASTEXITCODE
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/dbatools.library.psm1 b/dbatools.library.psm1
index 99cdacd7..2fb561c9 100644
--- a/dbatools.library.psm1
+++ b/dbatools.library.psm1
@@ -90,26 +90,31 @@ if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -ne "Core") {
     # PowerShell Core: Use AssemblyLoadContext.Resolving event for version redirection
     # This handles version mismatches when SqlServer module loads different versions of assemblies
     # IMPORTANT: Must be implemented in C# because the resolver runs on .NET threads without PowerShell runspaces
-    $dir = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($script:libraryroot, "lib")
-    $dir = ("$dir" + [System.IO.Path]::DirectorySeparatorChar).Replace('\', '\\')
+    $dir = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($script:libraryroot, "lib") + [System.IO.Path]::DirectorySeparatorChar
 
     if (-not ("CoreRedirector" -as [type])) {
         $coreSource = @"
             using System;
+            using System.Collections.Generic;
+            using System.Diagnostics;
             using System.IO;
             using System.Reflection;
+            using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
             using System.Runtime.Loader;
 
             public class CoreRedirector
             {
                 private static string _libPath;
                 private static bool _registered = false;
+                private static readonly string _platformRid = ComputePlatformRid();
+                private static readonly string _architectureRid = ComputeArchitectureRid();
 
                 public static void Register(string libPath)
                 {
                     if (_registered) return;
                     _libPath = libPath;
                     AssemblyLoadContext.Default.Resolving += OnResolving;
+                    AssemblyLoadContext.Default.ResolvingUnmanagedDll += OnResolvingUnmanagedDll;
                     _registered = true;
                 }
 
@@ -134,27 +139,164 @@ if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -ne "Core") {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    // Try to load from our lib folder if the file exists
-                    string dllPath = _libPath + name + ".dll";
-                    if (File.Exists(dllPath))
+                    foreach (string dllPath in GetManagedAssemblyPaths(name))
                     {
-                        try
+                        if (File.Exists(dllPath))
                         {
-                            return AssemblyLoadContext.Default.LoadFromAssemblyPath(dllPath);
+                            try
+                            {
+                                return AssemblyLoadContext.Default.LoadFromAssemblyPath(dllPath);
+                            }
+                            catch (Exception ex)
+                            {
+                                Trace.TraceWarning("Failed to load managed assembly from '{0}': {1}", dllPath, ex.Message);
+                                // Failed to load, try the next candidate
+                            }
                         }
-                        catch
+                    }
+
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                // This resolver is global to the load context, but it only returns module-owned native assets from _libPath.
+                private static IntPtr OnResolvingUnmanagedDll(Assembly assembly, string libraryName)
+                {
+                    if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(_architectureRid))
+                    {
+                        return IntPtr.Zero;
+                    }
+
+                    foreach (string fileName in GetNativeLibraryNames(libraryName))
+                    {
+                        string nativePath = Path.Combine(_libPath, "runtimes", _architectureRid, "native", fileName);
+                        if (File.Exists(nativePath))
                         {
-                            // Failed to load, return null to let default resolution continue
+                            try
+                            {
+                                return NativeLibrary.Load(nativePath);
+                            }
+                            catch (Exception ex)
+                            {
+                                Trace.TraceWarning("Failed to load native library from '{0}': {1}", nativePath, ex.Message);
+                                // Failed to load, try the next candidate
+                            }
                         }
                     }
 
-                    return null;
+                    return IntPtr.Zero;
+                }
+
+                private static string[] GetManagedAssemblyPaths(string name)
+                {
+                    string fileName = name + ".dll";
+
+                    var paths = new List<string>();
+
+                    if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(_platformRid))
+                    {
+                        paths.Add(Path.Combine(_libPath, "runtimes", _platformRid, "lib", "net8.0", fileName));
+                    }
+
+                    if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(_architectureRid))
+                    {
+                        paths.Add(Path.Combine(_libPath, "runtimes", _architectureRid, "lib", "net8.0", fileName));
+                    }
+
+                    paths.Add(Path.Combine(_libPath, fileName));
+
+                    return paths.ToArray();
+                }
+
+                private static string[] GetNativeLibraryNames(string libraryName)
+                {
+                    var names = new List<string>();
+                    names.Add(libraryName);
+
+                    if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows))
+                    {
+                        if (!libraryName.EndsWith(".dll", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                        {
+                            names.Add(libraryName + ".dll");
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.OSX))
+                    {
+                        if (!libraryName.EndsWith(".dylib", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                        {
+                            names.Add(libraryName + ".dylib");
+                            names.Add("lib" + libraryName + ".dylib");
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        if (!libraryName.EndsWith(".so", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                        {
+                            names.Add(libraryName + ".so");
+                            names.Add("lib" + libraryName + ".so");
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    return names.ToArray();
+                }
+
+                private static string ComputePlatformRid()
+                {
+                    // Managed runtime assets used by the module, especially SqlClient, ship
+                    // win/unix folders. OS-specific native assets are handled by ComputeArchitectureRid.
+                    if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows))
+                    {
+                        return "win";
+                    }
+
+                    return "unix";
+                }
+
+                private static string ComputeArchitectureRid()
+                {
+                    string osPart;
+                    if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows))
+                    {
+                        osPart = "win";
+                    }
+                    else if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Linux))
+                    {
+                        osPart = "linux";
+                    }
+                    else if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.OSX))
+                    {
+                        osPart = "osx";
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        return null;
+                    }
+
+                    string architecture;
+                    switch (RuntimeInformation.ProcessArchitecture)
+                    {
+                        case Architecture.X86:
+                            architecture = "x86";
+                            break;
+                        case Architecture.X64:
+                            architecture = "x64";
+                            break;
+                        case Architecture.Arm:
+                            architecture = "arm";
+                            break;
+                        case Architecture.Arm64:
+                            architecture = "arm64";
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            return null;
+                    }
+
+                    return osPart + "-" + architecture;
                 }
             }
 "@
 
         try {
-            $null = Add-Type -TypeDefinition $coreSource -ReferencedAssemblies 'System.Runtime.Loader'
+            $null = Add-Type -TypeDefinition $coreSource -ReferencedAssemblies 'System.Runtime.Loader','System.Runtime.InteropServices','System.Collections','System.Diagnostics.TraceSource'
         } catch {
             Write-Verbose "Could not compile CoreRedirector: $_"
         }
@@ -167,8 +309,58 @@ if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -ne "Core") {
     }
 }
 
-# REMOVED win-sqlclient logic - SqlClient is now directly in lib
-$sqlclient = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($script:libraryroot, "lib", "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll")
+function Get-DbatoolsSqlClientPath {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)]
+        [string]$LibraryRoot
+    )
+
+    $libPath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($LibraryRoot, "lib")
+    if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -eq "Core") {
+        if ($IsWindows) {
+            $runtimeSqlClient = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($libPath, "runtimes", "win", "lib", "net8.0", "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll")
+        } else {
+            $runtimeSqlClient = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($libPath, "runtimes", "unix", "lib", "net8.0", "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll")
+        }
+
+        if (Test-Path $runtimeSqlClient) {
+            return $runtimeSqlClient
+        }
+    }
+
+    [System.IO.Path]::Combine($libPath, "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.dll")
+}
+
+function Add-DbatoolsNativeSearchPath {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)]
+        [string]$LibraryRoot
+    )
+
+    if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -ne "Core" -or -not $IsWindows) {
+        return
+    }
+
+    $architecture = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeInformation]::ProcessArchitecture.ToString().ToLowerInvariant()
+    $nativeRid = "win-$architecture"
+    $nativePath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($LibraryRoot, "lib", "runtimes", $nativeRid, "native")
+    if (-not (Test-Path $nativePath)) {
+        return
+    }
+
+    $pathSeparator = [System.IO.Path]::PathSeparator
+    $pathParts = $env:PATH -split [Regex]::Escape([string]$pathSeparator)
+    if ($pathParts -contains $nativePath) {
+        return
+    }
+
+    $env:PATH = $nativePath + $pathSeparator + $env:PATH
+}
+
+Add-DbatoolsNativeSearchPath -LibraryRoot $script:libraryroot
+$sqlclient = Get-DbatoolsSqlClientPath -LibraryRoot $script:libraryroot
 
 # Get loaded assemblies once for reuse (used for AvoidConflicts checks and later assembly loading)
 $script:loadedAssemblies = [System.AppDomain]::CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies()
@@ -328,4 +520,4 @@ foreach ($name in $names) {
 if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -ne "Core" -and $redirector) {
     # Store the redirector in script scope so it stays alive and can be accessed if needed
     $script:assemblyRedirector = $redirector
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}